Cervical collar utilizing laminated members

Abstract

A cervical collar having upper and lower posterior laminate bodies each including a low density polyethylene material, a foam material, and a fabric material; and upper and lower anterior laminate bodies each including a low density polyethylene material and a fabric material.

1 . A cervical collar, the collar comprising: 
 a posterior portion generally configured to conform to a rear neck portion of a patient, the posterior portion comprising an upper posterior segment having an upper posterior rigid member connected to an upper posterior laminate body and a lower posterior segment comprising a lower posterior rigid member connected to a lower posterior laminate body, wherein the upper posterior rigid member is adjustably securable to the lower posterior rigid member and the upper posterior laminate body is adjustably securable to the lower posterior laminate body, with the upper and lower posterior laminate bodies each comprising a laminated structure having a polymeric sheet material, a foam material, and a fabric material; and    an anterior portion generally configured to conform to a chin and front neck portion of the patient, the anterior portion comprising an upper anterior segment having an upper anterior rigid member connected to an upper anterior laminate body and a lower anterior segment comprising a lower anterior rigid member connected to a lower anterior laminate body, wherein the upper anterior rigid member is adjustably securable to the lower anterior rigid member and the upper anterior laminate body is adjustably securable to the lower anterior laminate body, with the upper and lower anterior laminate bodies each comprising a laminated structure having a polymeric sheet material and a fabric material.    
   
   
       2 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower posterior laminate bodies each comprise laminate bodies having a foam material and a low density polyethylene material sandwiched between a pair of fabric materials and made by vacuum molding with adhesive between each layer.  
   
   
       3 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower anterior laminate bodies each comprise a low density polyethylene material attached to a soft fabric material.  
   
   
       4 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower posterior rigid members each comprise substantially rigid plastic members.  
   
   
       5 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower anterior rigid members each comprise substantially rigid plastic members.  
   
   
       6 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the upper posterior rigid member includes a plurality of fasteners and the lower posterior rigid member includes a plurality of apertures, wherein the fasteners are releasably engageable with the apertures for adjusting the relative positions of the upper and lower rigid members relative to one another.  
   
   
       7 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the upper anterior rigid member includes a plurality of fasteners and the lower anterior rigid member includes a plurality of apertures, wherein the fasteners are releasably engageable with the apertures for adjusting the relative positions of the upper and lower rigid members relative to one another.  
   
   
       8 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the upper posterior laminate body and the lower posterior laminate body have matingly positionable surfaces that are releasably attachable to one another for permitting the laminate bodies to be adjustably positionable relative to one another.  
   
   
       9 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein the upper anterior laminate body and the lower anterior laminate body have matingly positionable surfaces that are releasably attachable to one another for permitting the laminate bodies to be adjustably positionable relative to one another.  
   
   
       10 . The collar of  claim 1 , wherein he lower anterior laminate body is generally U-shaped, with the upper portion of the U having the outwardly extending arms and the bottom of the U having a bifoliar configuration  
   
   
       11 . The collar of  claim 1 , further comprising straps for maintaining the anterior and the posterior portions in an overlapped orientation when installed on a user.  
   
   
       12 . The collar of  claim 12 , further comprising a supplemental strap system configured to extend between portions of the posterior portion and the anterior portion and to extend adjacent an under-arm region of a user.  
   
   
       13 . A cervical collar having upper and lower posterior laminate bodies each including a polymeric sheet material, a foam material, and a fabric material; and upper and lower anterior laminate bodies each including a polymeric sheet material and a fabric material.  
   
   
       14 . The collar of  claim 13 , wherein the polymeric sheet material comprises a low density polyethylene sheet material.  
   
   
       15 . A medical support comprising a rigid member and a laminate body securable to the rigid member, the laminate body including a polymeric sheet material, a foam material, and a fabric material.  
   
   
       16 . The support of  claim 15 , wherein the polymeric sheet material comprises a low density polyethylene sheet material.  
   
   
       17 . The support of  claim 15 , wherein the medical support further comprises a strap and wherein the laminate body is substantially flexible in an untensioned state so as to be positionable about a portion of a user, yet which becomes sufficiently rigid when positioned about the portion of a user and tensioned as by the use of the strap.  
   
   
       18 . The support of  claim 15 , wherein the support is a cervical collar.